Following the formal initiation of the accreditation procedure by the Accreditation Committee, a documented preliminary meeting between the programme directors and the KSA serves to introduce the procedure and its stages, using guidance documents and a provisional timetable. The meeting also explains the requirements for the self-evaluation report and the programme-specific supporting documents to be submitted on the basis of the Bavarian Study Accreditation Ordinance (BayStudAkkV). The resolution of the Accreditation Committee is published, and the KSA timetable is updated on the university website following reconciliation with the KSE list.
Programme directors subsequently submit a self-evaluation report, the FStuPO, a module catalogue and, where applicable, further programme-specific documents by the next meeting of the Accreditation Committee. In the case of reaccreditation, the self-evaluation report must explicitly address any recommendations arising from the previous accreditation procedure as well as any completed target agreements. In addition, programme directors submit a list of proposed external professorial experts, external representatives from professional practice and external student representatives.
In doing so, programme directors are required to comply with the provisions of the guidance document Guidance on Conflict-of-Interest Rules for the Appointment of External Review Panels, which is based on the conflict-of-interest rules of the German Research Foundation. The KSA verifies the independence of the external reviewers and ensures this through declarations of impartiality submitted by the reviewers. For individual accreditation procedures, the external review panel generally comprises two professorial representatives, one representative from professional practice and one student representative. In the case of cluster accreditation procedures, the number of professorial representatives is increased. During the preliminary meeting, the preference for a gender-balanced composition of the review panel is highlighted.
In parallel with the self-evaluation report, the KSA coordinates the collection of data in accordance with the requirements for the German Accreditation Council’s data sheet with the Controlling and Statistics Office and EXA Management. The KSA reviews the self-evaluation report for completeness and prepares a preliminary review report on compliance with the formal criteria of the BayStudAkkV for the external reviewers.
If the self-evaluation report does not meet the formal or substantive requirements, a further meeting between the programme directors and the KSA takes place. Where necessary, the KSA revises the self-evaluation report in consultation with the programme directors. If the proposed list of external reviewers is exhausted, for example due to conflicts of interest, the programme directors of the degree programme undergoing accreditation submit a new list of proposals. If this list is also exhausted, the right to propose reviewers passes to the University Executive Board.
This phase is generally linked to the September meeting of the Accreditation Committee and extends over one semester.
Following receipt of the programme documentation and the composition of the external review panel, the KSA coordinates a site visit with the external reviewers, programme directors, students, teaching staff and members of the University Executive Board. In advance of the site visit, the KSA provides the external reviewers with information on the legal basis (BayStudAkkV) and the university’s procedure for internal accreditation. The external reviewers are also provided with guidance documents on the programme documentation, the formulation of quality assurance measures and the requirements for the quality report.
On the basis of the programme documentation and the key quality assurance documents, the external review panel assesses the degree programme as part of a site visit and prepares a quality report. The reporting process is coordinated and supported by the KSA. The report may contain proposals for quality assurance measures in the form of conditions and recommendations. Following approval of the quality report, programme directors are given the opportunity to submit a written response.
This phase is not linked to any committee meetings and generally takes place during the summer semester.
Die Systemakkreditierung ist ein Verfahren zur Qualitätssicherung. Es soll die kontinuierliche Sicherung und Weiterentwicklung von Standards im Bereich Studium und Lehre gewährleisten. Eine systemakkreditierte Universität kann ihre Studienprogramme selbstbestimmt auf die Einhaltung von Qualitätsstandards überprüfen und akkreditieren.
Die Systemakkreditierung stellt sicher, dass die qualitätstragenden Prozesse der Programmakkreditierung bereits die Studiengangsentwicklung bestimmen und in bestehenden Studiengängen regelmäßig kontrolliert werden. Hierzu zählen z.B. ein in sich schlüssiger und kompetenzorientierter Studienaufbau, eine Sicherstellung der Studierbarkeit, eine klare Formulierung der Studiengangsziele in den Curricula sowie eine ausreichende Bereitstellung von Ressourcen, um die Studierbarkeit und das Erreichen der Ziele zu gewährleisten.
Bei der Systemakkreditierung wird das Qualitätssicherungssystem der Universität qualitätsgeprüft. Eine systemakkreditierte Universität akkreditiert ihre Studiengänge intern und vergibt das Gütesiegel der Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat selbst. Das Universitätsakkreditierungssystem wird in einem Turnus von acht Jahren erneut durch eine Agentur begutachtet und der Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat zur Reakkreditierung vorgelegt. Das Qualitätssicherungssystem der Universität wird dabei durch folgende Parameter geleitet:
